Dodd to be Hollywood's top man in Washington

Former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) has been named chairman and
chief executive of the Motion Picture Association of America.

Dodd
will start his new job on St. Patrick's Day — March 17.

The
Connecticut Democrat, who retired from the Senate in January after three
decades, succeeds former Chairman Dan Glickman, who left last year. Bob
Pisano has served as interim chief of the film industry's top lobbying
group since.

“Senator Dodd is a battle-tested leader whose reputation as a strong
leader on major issues facing this country has prepared him to serve as
the ambassador for the movie business. I, along with my colleagues,
agree that he was worth the wait,” said Fox Filmed Entertainment
Chairman Jim Gianopulos.

Dodd's hiring, which has been rumored
for weeks, ends months of media speculation regarding who would take
over one of the most glamorous jobs on K Street. But the $1.2
million-a-year-salary also comes with the tough task of getting the
fiercely competitive member studios to coordinate their policy goals.

"I
am truly excited about representing the interests of one of the most
creative and productive industries in America, not only in Washington
but around the world,” Dodd said.

“The major motion picture
studios consistently produce and distribute the most sought after and
enjoyable entertainment on earth. Protecting this great American export
will be my highest priority.”

Dodd mentioned protecting the
interests of children and families, increasing intellectual property
protections and expanding the industry's reach abroad as areas of focus.
He said it was an honor to follow in the footsteps of Glickman and
iconic MPAA chief Jack Valenti, whose 38-year reign ended in 2004.

Pisano
told Hillicon last month that combating online piracy is the movie
industry's top priority, arguing pirated films erode the industry's
revenue streams and jeopardize the jobs of the 2.5 million Americans its
employs.

The MPAA is one of the strongest backers of Senate
Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy's (D-Vt.) Combating Online
Infringements and Counterfeits Act, which the committee is planning
to take up after an expected vote by the full Senate on patent reform
this week. Leahy has predicted a version of the bill will pass Congress
this year.

The nascent online video marketplace is another area
expected to become a focus for the MPAA under Dodd. The Federal
Communications Commission attached a number of measures to the NBC
Universal-Comcast merger intended to protect competition in that arena.

The
MPAA will likely play a large role in hammering out the rules of the
road for Web content distributors seeking to stream films online,
particularly with regards to first-run movies and recent releases.